Straw-feeding machine.



Np. 771,204. PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904.

G. P, GRIFFIN.

STRAW FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Patented September 27, 1904.

UNITED STATES- PATENT QFFICE.

GEORGE P. GRIFFIN, OF MENLO, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO N. L. THEURERAND THOMAS WALTERS, OF MENLO, IOWA.

STRAW-FEEDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,204, datedSeptember 27, 1904.

Application filed November 11, 1903. Serial No. 180,650- (No model.)

To all whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. GRIFFIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Menlo,

' county of Guthrie, and State of Iowa, have invented a certain. new anduseful Improvement in Straw-Feeding Machines, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in self-feeders forthreshing-machines, and has for its object to provide a feeder whichwill spread the bundle of straw into a thin layer after the band hasbeen cut, and if too much straw is fed to the machine said feeder willautomatically check the feed until the straw has again reached itsproper level, thus automatically regulating the speed of the straw tothe machine.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and thenspecifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, the constructionand operation will now be described in detail, referring to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichFigure l is a side elevation of my improved feeder, a portion of thecasing being broken away to show the operating parts; Fig. 2, a sectionon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a detail plan View of the clutchmechanism; Fig. 4:, a side elevation of Fig. 3.

A represents the bottom conveyer, upon which the bundle of straw isfirst placed to be carried to the band-cutting knives. This conveyer isin the usual form of an endless belt passing over suitable guide rollersand is driven from the shaft B.

C is a shaft upon which the band-cutting knives D are secured, saidshaft forming the power-shaft. Upon one end of this shaft O is secured apinion E, which meshes with a pinion F, journaled upon a stud extendingoutward from the casing G.

I is a pulley journaled loosely upon the shaft B, and power iscommunicated to said pulley from the pinion F.

J is one member of a clutch, keyed upon the shaft B, so as to slidethereon, the other member of the clutch being secured to the pulley I. Aspring K tends to always force the member J into engagement with theother member.

L is a short conveyer arranged behind the band-cutting knives and abovethe rearward portion of the conveyer A. This conveyer L runs oversuitable guide-pulleys and is driven at a much greater speed than theconveyer A by means of a belt or chain M, which passes around a smallpulley secured to one of the idle rollers of the conveyer L and thenaround a larger pulley secured upon the shaft C. Thus as the bundle isfed toward the machine the band-cutting knives D will sever the band,and the unbound bundle will then travel toward the conveyer L, and assaid conveyer L trave'ls at a greater speed than the conveyer A thebundle will be spread out in a comparatively thin layer, so as to be fedproperly to the cylinder of the machine. The conveyer L is pivoted atits forward or driven end, and the rearward end of the conveyer is freeto swing upon its pivot, the shaft of the idle roller at its free endbeing guided in slots N, formed through the casing. Thus the conveyer Lsimply floats upon the top of the straw.

O is a bell-crank lever pivoted to the casing G, one end of said leverbeing in engagement with an annular groove formed in the clutch member Jupon the shaft B, the other end of the bell-crank lever being connectedto a bar P, the outer end of which is bent at right angles, as shown atP.

Q is a rod extending upward vertically and adapted to slide in suitablebearings Q The lower end of this rod Q is wedge shape, as shown at Q,and this wedgeshape end lies behind the inturned end P of the bar P. Theupper end of the rod Q, is pivoted to one end of a lever B, which leveris pivoted intermediate of its two ends to the casing G.

S is a rod secured to the conveyer L and extending upward, the upper endlying below the other end of the lever B. Thus when more straw is fed tothe feeder than can be taken 'by the cylinder of the machine the surplusstraw will cause the conveyer L to raise, and

the rod S by pushing upward upon the lever B will force the wedge-shapeend Q downward, and this, through the bell-crank lever 0, will force theclutch member J out of engagement with the wheel I, and therefore stopthe movement of the lower conveyer A, and the upper conveyer will thencontinue to feed the straw until the straw has been reduced to theproper level, and then the conveyer will fall to its normal position,and this will allow the spring K to act to throw the member J intoclutch with the wheel I, and thus cause the conveyer A to resume itsmovement.

' Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction hereshown, as slight modifications could be made without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulis In a machine of the character described, a lower conveyer made in theform of an endless belt, suitable guide-pulleys over which said beltruns, a shaft for driving the lower conveyer, a pulley journalcd looselyupon said shaft, a power-shaft band-cutting knife secured to saidpower-shaft, means for driving the pulley from the power-shaft, a clutchfor throwing the pulley in and out of engagement with the shaft of thelower conveyer, an upper conveyer arranged at the rear of the lowerconveyer and a distance above the same, the upper conveyer being pivotedat the forward end, the rearward end of said conveyer being free to moveup and down concentric with the pivotal point, means for driving saidupper conveyer from the power-shaft at a speed greater than the lowerconveyer, a bell-crank lever extending from the clutch, a rod extendingupward, the lower end of said rod being formed wedge shape and inengagement with the bell-crank lever, means for forcing said roddownward when the upper conveyer is forced upward by the straw so as tothrow the clutch out of engagement with the pulley and stop the movementof the lower conveyer, and

a spring for returning the clutch into engagement, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed-my signature in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE P. GRIFFIN.

WVitnesses:

F. L. Co'r'rRnLL, E. G. RIGDoN.

